Rabat – Morocco’s Minister of Foreign Affairs, Nasser Bourita, emphasized on Tuesday that King Mohammed VI’s vision places the sea at the center of Morocco’s development, continental ties, and sovereignty.
Speaking at the opening of a seminar on “International Practices in the Delimitation of Maritime Areas,” Bourita explained that the King links Morocco’s territorial unity with its role as a leading maritime nation. This vision goes beyond sovereignty to include economic and human connections through the sea, particularly with Africa.
He highlighted Morocco’s efforts to expand the “blue economy,” modernize ports such as Tangier Med, and advance the Dakhla Atlantic Port project, designed as a trade hub with Africa. Bourita also recalled the King’s goal of rebuilding a strong national commercial fleet to ensure reliable maritime links with Africa and the wider world.
The minister noted that the sea is central to Morocco’s diplomatic initiatives, citing the “Rabat Process,” launched in 2022 with 23 Atlantic African countries, focusing on maritime security, environmental protection, and sustainable development. He also pointed to the 2023 initiative to provide Sahel countries with access to the Atlantic Ocean via Moroccan port infrastructure—an example of “geopolitical solidarity” aimed at reducing isolation for nations such as Mali, Niger, Chad, and Burkina Faso.
Another flagship project is the Nigeria-Morocco Atlantic gas pipeline, launched in 2016, which will connect 13 African countries. Bourita described it as not only an energy infrastructure but also a driver of stability, development, and regional cooperation.
These initiatives, he said, reflect the King’s conviction that in Africa, strong vision combined with strong will makes everything possible.
Bourita also referred to Morocco’s role in the recent United Nations Ocean Conference in Nice, where King Mohammed VI co-chaired the Africa-focused “Summit for the Ocean.” At the event, the King stressed that Africa’s future should not be seen solely through a land perspective, as its destiny is equally maritime.